Alcohol poisoning, drug overdoses and mosh-pit injuries... New Year's festivals are underway

St John is readying their services for some of their busiest nights of the year.. as festivals including Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines open their gates.

Assistant Director of Operations Tony Devanney says they're well prepared with extra staff and resources.

He says St John has a big events crew who can treat people on-scene so they don't need to go to hospitals, which will be under a lot of pressure.